Everything Equine Extreme Trail Challenge 2014 Rules and Judging 1. The Extreme Trail Challenge will be a timed event during which the performance of each horse and rider team will be judged on each obstacle. For each obstacle, the judges will award performance points on a scale of 0-5 based on the horse's attitude, the rider's horsemanship, and the team's overall performance. 0 = Obstacle not completed 3 = Good/average performance 1 = Very poor performance 4 = Very good/ above average performance 2 = Poor performance 5 = Excellent/outstanding performance 2. Contestants will be required to complete each obstacle within 30 seconds in order to receive points for the obstacle. If an obstacle is not completed within 30 seconds, the contestant will be flagged/whistled and must move on to the next obstacle. 3. Obstacles and competition rules will be reviewed in a contestant meeting before the competition begins. It is the responsibility of the contestant to fully understand the rules of the competition before the race begins. Contestants will be permitted to ask questions about the rules up until the first contestant enters the course. 4. The course is subject to change at the discretion of the judges and/or the management of the Vermont Horse Council up until the time that the first competitor enters the ring. Any changes in the course will be dated, timed, and posted at the arena. It will be the contestant's responsibility to check for any course changes. 5. The crowd at the event is considered to be part of the course, and each contestant acknowledges that the crowd may be a distraction to his/her horse. 6. At the judge's discretion a contestant may be issued a re-ride should an outside distraction from beyond the course (such as a fire alarm going off, a medical emergency, etc.) be so great as to inhibit the contestant from having a fair opportunity to compete. If a contestant wants to request a re-ride, he/she must request a re-ride within two minutes of (a) the ride being stopped at the discretion of the judge or competition management, or (b) the rider completing the course and receiving a time. If a re-ride is issued, the contestant will receive the re-ride at the end of the rides. 7. Each contestant must make an effort to complete each obstacle in the course. Contestants may not choose to skip an obstacle. All obstacles must be accomplished in the order set forth in the course summary. Should a contestant veer off course and miss an obstacle, he/she must go back and complete the obstacle before moving on to the next obstacle. If contestant does not complete the course in proper order he/she will be disqualified. Neither the judge nor anyone on the competition crew will alert the contestant that an obstacle has been missed. 8. Contestants may utilize any English or western tack that is considered to be standard in the industry and in recognized competitions. Bareback riding is not allowed. Any bit, spur, or other piece of equipment deemed to be severe or inappropriate by the judges will not be allowed. The judge will evaluate the tack on the horse when it enters the arena. Mechanical hackamores and tie downs will not be permitted. For their safety, riders are encouraged to wear approved riding helmets. Riders should be neatly dressed in discipline appropriate tack. Horses are permitted to wear protective leg wraps, boots, or other leg gear.
9. All contestants will compete in the order in which their names are drawn. Failure to compete in this order will result in disqualification. 10. Any dispute or complaint by a contestant must be brought to the attention of the official timer prior to the contestant leaving the course arena. All contestants agree to abide by the rulings of the judges. The decisions of the judges will be final and not subject to appeal for any reason. 11. The ride time calculated by the official timer for the competition will be deemed the official time for each contestant's ride and may not be challenged by any contestant. There will also be a back-up timer. Should the primary fail, the back-up time will be made the official time. The timer's records are final and may not be challenged in any way by the contestant. Should all timers fail, the contestant will receive a re-ride at the end of all competitors. 12. Overall ride times will be translated into points by arranging all ride times from fastest to slowest and then awarding points as follow: Fastest 20% = 25 points 4 th fastest 20% = 10 points 2 nd fastest 20% = 20 points 5 th fastest 20% = 5 points 3 rd fastest 20% = 15 points 13. If a contestant doesn't complete all the obstacles, that contestant can't finish ahead of any contestant that does complete all the obstacles. 14. The points from each obstacle will be added to the time points. The contestant with the highest points will be declared the winner. Exception: see rule 13.
Everything Equine Extreme Trail Challenge April 27, 2014 Registration Form Name of Participant: Name of Horse: Breed: Address: Phone: Email: Emergency contact: Phone: Entry fee is $175.00 per horse/rider team. Prize money for 1 st place is $1500.00, 2 nd $750.00, 3 rd $500.00. Payment must accompany application. Please make checks payable to: Champlain Valley Exposition Send to: Champlain Valley Exposition, Attn: Extreme Trail, PO Box 209, Essex Junction, VT 05452 Video may be sent to: spetrie@cvexpo.org Applications must be received by Friday April 11, 2014. Applicants will be notified if they have been selected by Friday April 18, 2014. Application fees will be returned to those not selected to compete. Along with registration form and fee, a video which demonstrates you and your horses skills in terms of extreme trail elements must be submitted. Also include a written summary of your experience with this horse in terms of events, shows, or competitions. Finally, provide a separate paragraph ( no more than 100 words) that includes horse/rider names, breed and a brief description of background/history. This paragraph may be used in the show booklet and publicity.. **Please note: There are no stabling accommodations for this event. Challenge begins at 9:30 a.m. with a mandatory rider meeting at 8:45am. Liability Waiver: Rider signature for the Everything Equine Extreme Trail Challenge, to be held on April 27, shall constitute an agreement and affirmation that the rider is subject to all the rules and regulations of VHC, Champlain Valley Exposition and the sport itself. As part of the agreement, I will not hold the sponsors, their officials, organizers or employees responsible for any action taken or for any injury or loss suffered during or in connection with this event. I further agree to enter at my own risk knowing that any event involving equestrian sports is dangerous. I will be in control of myself and my horse at all times and take all responsibilities for any damage we may cause. Vermont State Statute: As used in this section: 1. Equine means a horse, pony, mule or donkey. 2. Equine activity includes but is not limited to: 2.1. Equine shows, fairs, competitions, performances, or parades that involve any and all breeds of equines and any of the equine disciplines, including but not limited to dressage, hunter and jumper horse shows, Grand Prix, three-day events, combined training, rodeos, riding, driving, pulling, cutting, polo, steeple chasing, English or Western performance riding, endurance trail riding, gymkhana games and hunting. 2.2. Equine training or teaching activities, or both; 2.3. Rides, Trips or Hunts. 3. Equine activity sponsor means an individual, group, club, organized camp, partnership or organization, whether or not the sponsor is operating for profit or non profit, which sponsors, organizes or provides the facilities for an equine event, including but not limited to pony clubs, 4-H, hunt clubs, riding clubs, schools and college sponsored classes, programs and activities, therapeutic riding programs, stable and farm owners and operators, instructors and promoters or equine facilities, including but not limited to farms, stables, clubhouses, pony ride strings, fairs and arenas at which the activity is held. 4. Participant means any person, whether an amateur or professional, who engages in an equine event, whether or not a fee or other consideration is paid to participate in the equine activity. 4.1. No person shall be liable for injury to, or death of, a participant resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities, insofar as those risks are necessary to the equine activity and obvious to the person injured. 5. An equine activity sponsor may post and maintain signs which contain the warning notice specified in this section. Such signs shall be placed in a clearly visible place in the proximity of the equine event. The warning notice shall appear on the sign in black letters, with each letter to be a minimum of one inch in height. 6. Every written contract entered into by an equine activity sponsor for the providing of professional services, instruction or the rental of equipment, tack or an equine to participate, whether or not the contract involves equine activities on or off the location or site of the equine professional s business, may contain in clearly readable print the warning notice: WARNING Under Vermont Law, an equine activity sponsor is not liable for injury to or the death of, a participant is equine activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities that are obvious and necessary pursuant to 12 V.S.A. #1039 Added 1995 No. 1336 (Adj Sess) #2. Participant Signature: Date: Parent or Guardian: Date: (If participant is under 18 years of age)
Extreme Trail 2014 Course Instructions 1. Lead horse into box, check all 4 feet. Mount. 2. Pick up saddlebags from Amelia the mannequin. Saddlebags contain color coded mail. 3. 3a. Ride up Main Street. 4. Deliver RED mail to the General Store. 5. 3b. Back horse down Main Street. 6. Pick up bells, put around horse's neck. 7. Cross bridge. 8. Navigate log pile. 9. Drag tree to fence, place rope over fence between the markers. 10. Go through the water. 11. Deliver WHITE mail at Boot Hill. 12. Navigate ice, looping around the tree. 13. Negotiate the windstorm, going between the fan with streamers and the plank. 14. Open the rope gate, go through, close the gate. 15. Deliver BLUE mail at Wagon Wheel Ranch. 16. Hand the saddlebags back to Amelia. 17. Walk across the beam. 18. Hop over the culvert. 19. Exit the arena.
Extreme Trail Challenge Liability Form Please be advised that the handling, use and riding of a horse involves the risk of injury or death and that when participating in any riding event sponsored by the Vermont Horse Council and Champlain Valley Exposition you ride at your own risk. Under Vermont Law, an equine activity sponsor is not liable for an injury to or the death of, a participant in equine activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities that are obvious and necessary, pursuant to 12 V.S.A. & 1039. Prior to riding in any of our riding events you must sign this liability release, agreeing to follow all reasonable safety and helmet rules and releasing the Vermont Horse Council and Champlain Valley Exposition from any liability. Signature of Participant Date Parent or guardian if under 18 Date: Please sign and return to: Champlain Valley Exposition Attention: Extreme Trail PO Box 208 Essex Junction, VT 05452